Following two appeals, the Public Utilities Commission awarded the contract for a third time to FairPoint on the day before Thanksgiving, and the window for filing further appeals passed on Wednesday.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) _ FairPoint Communications is ready to move forward with a five-year contract worth $32 million to provide the next-generation 911 system in Maine.

Following two appeals, the Public Utilities Commission awarded the contract for a third time to FairPoint on the day before Thanksgiving, and the window for filing further appeals passed on Wednesday.

FairPoint will provide the system and support for Maine's 26 Public Safety Answering Points, which answer 911 calls in their coverage area. The Emergency Services Communication Bureau oversees implementation and operation of the statewide Enhanced 9-1-1 service that FairPoint currently provides.

The process for the new contract was contentious, with Colorado-based Intrado and Maine-based Oxford Networks two appealing the PUC's decision in favor of FairPoint.